Gandhi Jayanti, the birth anniversary is round the corner.

As usual, many programmes will be held to mark the occasion and Bapu will be remembered by the citizens of the city yet again. Only a handful of the city’s educational institutions take pains to have celebrations.
But one has to wonder at the significance of these celebrations as one can find neither a statue of the Father of the Nation nor a memorial in his name.

Just as in other places, Tumkur also boasts of a Mahatma Gandhi Road. However, there is not even a bust of the greatest freedom fighter to be seen.

According to the historical records that are available, Gandhiji had visited Tumkur in the 1930s twice.
During his visits, he had stayed in the Government College and Government High School for some time.
Yet, there is no memorial to remember the time he spent here.

However, the demand for setting up of a Gandhi Bhavan was given a boost by Tumkur University Vice Chancellor Dr O Anantramaiah, who is a noted historian as well. Right from the day he assumed charge of the university, the VC has been stating his intention of building a state-of-the-art Gandhi Bhavan in the university premises.
With the sanction of required land for the campus, Dr Anantramaiah is also planning to start diploma courses in Gandhian Studies alongside the setting up of Gandhi Bhavan.